Lewek, NY Psychiatrist, Going Back to Prison – parole violation

Democrat & Chronicle
William Lewek, who buried body in backyard, going back to prison on parole violation
By Gary Craig
February 5, 2018

Psychiatrist William Lewek

William Lewek, the former psychiatrist who buried the body of a dead man in his backyard, is returning to prison for three months after admitting to a parole violation.

Lewek last week admitted to a violation of his parole terms. He had been accused of failing to seek mental health treatment in a timely manner.

Dr. William Lewek Wednesday morning pleaded not guilty to felony charges in connection with the death and disappearance of Matthew Straton.

Lewek’s attorney, Matthew Parrinello, said last month that Lewek was actively seeking a mental health evaluation after his release, but was avoiding places where he previously worked because he thought it could pose a conflict for the providers.

Lewek will serve three more months in prison, then be released again on parole terms.

Lewek, who has lost his medical license, pleaded guilty in February 2015 to burying the body of 32-year-old Matthew Straton in the backyard of Lewek’s Rowley Street home. He was sentenced to 1⅓ to four years for tampering with evidence, the maximum penalty for the felony.

Lewek maintained that Straton died at Lewek’s home of an apparent heroin overdose and that he panicked and buried Straton in his backyard.

He was released on parole in late December. He was charged with the parole violations on Jan. 9.

He is expected to be returned to a state prison in coming weeks. His additional sentence of three months will begin then.